Catwalk Cosmetics Makeup Workshop March 2012

Catwalk Cosmetics’ 1st makeup workshop for 2012 is moved to March 10, 2012 (1-5pm). It’s a good thing I had a bit of conflict in my schedule so more students can join. :)

Good news to all those who haven’t purchased the popular Catwalk Cosmetics Runway Palette~ It’s included in Package B! (Save P400) We also have other goodies in store like SweeTetite Chocolate Truffles, Get Lashed GCs and Nivea skin care.

FEE: Package A (Free Makeup Brush Set) P,3500 | Package B (Free Brush Set & Runway Palette) P4,250. 

Again, beginners are VERY welcome! Do not be intimidated by the model in the poster. Haha! My classes are very informal, hands-on and interactive because I want everyone to learn while having fun. No *nosebleed* terms. Check out photos our previous students HERE and HERE.

The workshop will be held at a private studio in Pasig City, not too far from Tiendesitas. Map will be e-mailed upon confirmation of your slot.We will only accept a maximum of 10 students so register today at 0917-8929289. :)

LIKE: Catwalk Cosmetics Facebook

TORCH Restaurant’s Valentine’s Day Menu + Dinner for 2 giveaway!

It’s the time of the year again when love is everywhere and restaurants get fully booked by love struck couples of all ages.

Last week, I got the privilege to be one of the first to try out Torch Restaurant’s Valentines Day menu. I’m a regular customer there so I was quite excited to taste something new and different aside from their usual thin crust pizza or steak medallion.

First up, the starter: Torch’s Pepperoni Panizza

Panizzas are hand-rolled thin-crust pizzas. I’m glad they served it this way because it would be really awkward to use your hands during a date especially when you’re not yet that comfortable with each other. I think it was a bit too big for a starter so I hope they change it to 2 bite-sized ones instead of a big panizza. I really think it tasted great because of the Arabiatta sauce plus, it had a lot of mixed greens like bell peppers, arugula and my favorite, alfalfa sprouts. 

Soup: Wild Mushroom Bisque w/ Truffle Oil OR Potage St. Valentine

I ordered the Wild Mushroom Bisque w/ Truffle Oil and I have been craving for it every night since I got to taste it. The soup was very thick, rich and creamy plus the mushroom’s taste was very dominant. Does it make sense?? It’s my first time to review a restaurant and I’m no expert so forgive me for making up terms. :}

My date got the Potage St. Valentine Soup. Good thing he took a photo! I was enjoying mine too much that I forgot to take one using my camera. Don’t get intimidated by the name, it’s just a fancy way of saying “St. Valentine’s Potato Soup”. And well, you gotta name at least one of the dishes after the person behind or scumbag (if you’re single and bitter) responsible for this special occasion.

Did you know: According to legend (and my legendary high school teachers) St. Valentine was a Roman priest who gave illegal/secret marriages to young men and soldiers because the emperor believed that married men didn’t make good soldiers. I guess women have been considered a big distraction and career ender since the olden times. Thumbs up!

Now, let’s move on to the main attraction..
Main Course: Flaming Mignon OR Salmon Puttanesca Amore 

Everyone knows that women are suckers for seafood. That includes me but I opted for the Flaming Mignon for that night. Valerie on the other hand ordered the Salmon Puttanesca Amore. I was expecting Salmon served on top of boring Puttanesca pasta but this came out instead. The pasta was oil based~ Aglio Olio (anchovy pasta) and the Norweigian Salmon was topped with puttanesca sauce. See the yellow ‘cave‘ on the left side? It’s actually cheese!! *another weakness* We were definitely very impressed by the plating of this dish!

I’m pretty sure most, if not all men are bound to order steak when they see the menu. The Flaming Mignon is guaranteed to satisfy anyone’s appetite!

The mashed potato (left) looked a bit stiff and dry but I got shocked when I tasted it because it was, for the lack of a better term, sooooo good! I can’t really describe the taste but it’s far from the usual mashed potatoes that I’ve tried. The veggies on the other hand aren’t my type because I dread carrots and string beans but my friend liked it because it was wrapped in bacon. I hope they do consider my suggestion and change it to asparagus instead! Hee.

The steak was very juicy and tender even on the inside. I always have mine cooked medium rare. Some people may find it gross and too bloody but I like it that way. How do you like yours done? Tip: If you don’t like the taste of alcohol at all, ask them to skip the vodka. I THINK it’s just for show, anyway. I’m not an expert at cooking but I know their steak will still taste great without it.


Bored or awkward? Do not fear! The dessert/ finale is sure to cause sparks between you and your date. The double chocolate heart fudge is good for sharing. I bet everyone will go all mushy and start feeding each other cake. *bitter mode* haha! The best thing about this cake was its frosting. I’m still trying to figure out how they made it crunchy. You’ve got to try it to know what I’m talking about.

Their Valentines Day Special is open for reservations starting today. It’s only 2,500 nett for a couple (2 pax). They can accommodate up to 25 couples only so you better start inquiring now because I heard that they got fully booked pretty quick last year.

Spy photo: Look who I spotted at the other table. My favorite couple having a date there too! :>

Speaking of dates, I’m giving away a P1,000 Peso Torch Gift Certificates and Nivea goodies to one lucky commenter and his/her date. All you have to do is..

  1. Leave a comment below via Disqus. Tell us your most kilig/ romantic moment with your special someone and why you want to take him/her to Torch. It can be as simple as receiving flowers or something as crazy as sharing your first kiss while bungee jumping. Don’t forget to leave your FULL NAME (FB name) and e-mail address.
  2. REQUIRED: Like Torch Restaurant’s Facebook and SHARE the Valentines Day album. We will cross-check comments here and those who clicked ‘share’.
  3. Optional: Spread the love by sharing or reblogging this link too! Aside from the Torch+Nivea prize, I’m giving away 5 pairs of Nivea his and hers lip care as a consolation prize! :>

*This contest runs from January 25 until Febrary 6, 2012 and is open to Metro Manila residents only. The GC is valid from February 15 until December 30, 2012.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED HERE.

TORCH Restaurant is located at #63 Connecticut Street, Greenhills, San Juan.
Tel # 02-4773771
LIKE them on FACEBOOK
FOLLOW @TorchResto on Twitter

Career Talk @ ICA: Accidental Blogger

Last November 18, I got the special opportunity of being one of the speakers for the ICA juniors’ Career Talk. It felt weird and awkward going back to my alma mater wearing all the illegal stuff like makeup, curly and colored hair, short fitted skirt and high heels. (Freedom!!) I had to pull down my skirt when the nuns requested to meet all the speakers. *shame* but it was truly a great experience to share my career’s history to the kids and see how surprised my teachers are to see me bloom from a sporty anti-girly girl to a super fashion and beauty conscious lady. (Photo above: Batch 1)

Believe it or not, I used to wear baggy pants and was dirty all the time from playing Volleyball or Basketball! 

Since it was my first time to be a speaker for a career talk, I was quite clueless on where to start. I didn’t even know which career I should focus on because I jumped from being an accessory designer to a makeup artist and blogger. To be honest, the “blogger” title was just an accident. I created a Facebook fan page to showcase my works way before I started blogging. People assumed I was one because of my random ‘Look of the day’ posts so I decided to create TheTravelingHeels. Funny, right? 

I got a bit sentimental when I rummaged through my old files and found photos of my handmade jewelries! (Photo above) Back in 2005, I started out as an accessory designer and I had a lot of international clients which included the First Lady of Guam. My favorite piece is the white crystal necklace (middle, black background) I created it for a French musical called “The Necklace”. Imagine, at the age of 17 I was already a workaholic!

I shared to the students my current online business, Catwalk Cosmetics & wigs. 

Good thing I had a few pieces with me because I had to convince them that wigs can be worn anytime at any occasion and are NOT just for costume parties. They were surprised to see how natural they look after I demonstrated it on a few of their classmates.

I also taught them the proper daily skin care routine which is to Cleanse, Tone and Moisturize everyday and shared my favorite product with everyone!

Thank you to Nivea Philippines for giving everyone Sparkling White facial foams! The students loved it and the size is perfect for their classroom kikay kits. (Photo above: Batch 2)

I hope I can get the chance to give another talk at ICA or other schools. I think I’ll never get old if I keep myself surrounded with kids. Haha! I’m looking forward to this weekend because I’ll be spending my last makeup workshop for the year with a few of the ICAns that I recently met. They’re so full of energy so I better make sure I charge up tomorrow.

P.S. it’s the feast of the Immaculate Conception today!! :D

xoxo

Tribute Shoes GCs + Last Makeup Workshop + A big THANK YOU!

I’ve been MIA for the longest time here on Tumblr. The ber-months have been quite crazy and I’m losing all my hair from juggling my projects, makeup job, online & family business that I pretty much forgot to update my blog. So here goes backlog #1! :)

I stumbled upon an online shop that sells really cute and classy flats. I told myself that it’s about time I got a decent pair for myself when I saw these Berlin flats from TRIBUTE SHOES.

First impression: They remind me of Chanel quilted bags! *loove* I’m hoping I can get a Chanel bag for myself this Christmas. I have to sell a bunch of my precious belongings first; my dog included. Kidding! :) So here’s my first ever post wearing flats..

Ta-dah! I wore this during our Makeup Workshop last November 26. So happy I have another comfy pair of flats aside from my Ipanema flip-flops. My mom is quite impressed with this pair because she’s never seen me wear ballet flats because they’re not that flattering on me. This one on the other hand, doesn’t make me look like a Beagle or Welsh Corgi because it’s pointed! (OOTD: Cotton-On chiffon top over striped H&M dress)

They’re very comfy and cushiony so despite standing up for over 5 hours, my feet didn’t hurt at all! :) I chose the silver one among all the pretty colors because almost all my accessories are silver. (In this photo: Forever 21 rings & Charriol bangle and watch)

**** GET P200 OFF CODE: “TributeMarj” ****
If you plan to order a pair from Tribute Shoes, use the code above and like their Facebook page, share their link on your FB or simply reblog this entry to instantly get P200 off your order/s! :) *For regular-priced BERLIN flats only. Valid Until january 30, 2012*

Announcement #2:
~~ LAST MAKEUP WORKSHOP DECEMBER 10 (This Saturday!!!) ~~

Basically, it will be the same as our last 2 workshops:

ALL students get to take home a makeup brush set. Makeup will be provided by Etude House so you don’t have to bring anything but yourself and be prepared for loads of fun while learning the proper application of makeup!

The class is open to all ages and beginners are VERY welcome.

I had loads of fun teaching my previous class. So kilig that one of my students was Sophie, the brainchild of Sophie’s Mom bakery. 8D

Everyone got to take home goodies such as a Nivea skin care set, Yhansy accessories and TRIBUTE SHOES GC’s so I think most of them got a new pair for themselves too. :D

Thank you to my childhood bully CRISSEY for being such an entertaining guest and for taking these photos during the workshop. Read her review HERE.

And of course, thank you to everyone who have attended my workshops this 2011. Catwalk Cosmetics was just an experimental/ for-fun brand and I wouldn’t have continued it if it weren’t for the support of my friends and readers. *Big hugs and kisses to everyone!!* So yes, Catwalk is here to stay and I have loads of new products coming your way soon!! :,)

DECEMBER 10 Catwalk Cosmetics Makeup Workshop ~ Fee is P3,500 (before was 4,500) inclusive of makeup brush set + Nivea, Yhansy, Tribute & Koi Swimwear gifts. 1-5pm at a private studio in Pasig City. Address will be sent via e-mail after confirmation. This will be the last workshop for the year 2011 and will resume on February 2012.

We only have 3 slots left so hurry and reserve a slot now by sending your full name & e-mail address to 0917-8929289.

Hope to see you this weekend and happy holidays!! :)

Let’s have a Face Affair! + Makeup Workshop Winner

A lot of people have been anticipating this… *drumroll* I’ll be announcing the winner to my Makeup Workshop Birthday Giveaway today! Thank you so much to everyone who joined. I had a hard time choosing the winner because of all the good entries so I picked out a familiar face/ commenter with a good entry! :)

But before anything, I’d like to invite you all to have a FACE AFFAIR with me and my gondo friends Doms, Val, Shai & Crissey with Nivea Philippines’ latest Facebook Application!

Get the chance to win DAILY prizes from Majolica Majorca & Nivea Sparkling White products. Guess what the grand prize is?? A grand makeover from us + 30k worth of prizes from Nivea, Majolica Majorca, Forever 21 & more!! I wish I could join this contest myself!! Haha :) I promise to give the winner a sparkling head to toe makeover so use the FACE AFFAIR app NOW!!! :D

Speaking of winners, congratulations to KATERINA BIANCA PEREZ for winning a slot to Catwalk Cosmetics’ makeup workshop this November 26!!!!! Please e-mail me your full name & contact # so I can contact you. :) Workshop details same as my previous one.

For those who are interested to join the workshop, just send your FULL NAME & cellphone # to marj_sia@yahoo.com. Will text you after the 15th because I will be out of the country.

Again, thank you to everyone who sent in their entries for my Birthday Giveaway. Will have more giveaways this Christmas season!! So stay tuned to my blog and keep sparkling!! :) 

Don’t just shine, SPARKLE!! ✩ [Late Birthday Giveaway!]

Makeup is like painting; one must always start with a clean canvas to come up with a brilliant masterpiece. A lot of people think that having great makeup is the secret of celebrities and models to having beautiful photos but in fact, they won’t look ravishing if they don’t have a clean face to begin with.
Being a beauty blogger, I have to test several products and try on countless makeup looks every week. It’s really hard to maintain a clean and pimple-free face given that I’m always in full-makeup during events and I doodle on my face whenever I’m bored. Hence, the vain pictures in this entry. :>
I love trying out new looks every chance I get. It takes me about an hour to apply makeup on myself even if I have already memorized the anatomy of my face because my goal is always to look flawless with as LITTLE makeup as I can apply. I think I’d rather step out with zero makeup than with bad makeup. *lol* And when I have pimple/s, I’d rather stay home than put on a thick layer of concealer over it because makeup will only worsen acne problems.
Some people assume that I have no skin problems whatsoever because I always look made up but I am struggling with BIG PORES on the nose area. I’m afraid that pimples might pop out after a night of makeup testing-galore especially when it’s my first time to test out a product.
That’s why prior to and after applying makeup on my face, I always wash my face squeaky clean with Nivea Visage Sparkling White Acne Oil Control Facial Wash to remove all dirt and oil to avoid my pores from clogging.


As I mentioned in my previous post, I’ve been using this product for over 2 weeks now and it has improved my skin a lot. 

My face is less oily even after going around the metro for errands and projects. Now I don’t have to worry about getting unwanted guests on my face like zits or pimples after being a makeup guinea pig! Hee :>

(Thanks to Patrick Uy for the photo above.) This was taken after a week of using Nivea Sparkling White Foam and I can see why the product is named that because I look so white and clean, kulang nalang I sparkle like glitters in real life! 

**Last week, I celebrated my sweet 16th birthday.(Juust kidding!) I got really sick so I didn’t have the time and energy to conduct an online contest.

So, as a late birthday giveaway, I will be giving one special reader a chance to win a slot to my next MAKEUP WORKSHOP! :D

If you haven’t read about it in my previous entries, click the links below. I guarantee you, it’s a fun-filled day with skin care lectures, makeup lessons wherein you’ll learn my makeup secrets and loads of freebies! Did I mention, EVERYONE will be getting a Nivea Visage Sparkling White skin care set too? ;)


Catwalk Cosmetics x Maybelline Makeup Workshop


Catwalk Cosmetics x Etude House Makeup Workshop

Mechanics:

  1. You must LIKE Nivea Phillipines’ Facebook Page & SHARE THIS LINK.
    —I will crosscheck the winner from here and my Disqus comments.
  2. LIKE Makeup By Marj Sia’s Facebook Page
  3. SHARE THIS ENTRY ANYWHERE!
    Tumblr:     Follow me & reblog this post.
    Twitter:     Follow me & tweet: “Win a slot to @DearMarjSia’s makeup workshop here: http://tumblr.com/ZuA-JyB8AC4F ♥
    Facebook:     Simply post a link to this entry. (link above)
  4. REQUIRED: In 2 sentences ONLY, tell me why you deserve to win a slot to my next makeup workshop. Leave a comment below via Disqus. Provide me your FULL NAME, e-mail address & links to where you shared this post. More links = more chances of winning!

    Example: 

    The lucky winner will be announced on November 8 (Tuesday) 9pm. Don’t forget to share my photo from NiveaPhils Facebook too because I will be looking for your name there. NiveaPhils will also choose a lucky winner that will receive a Sparkling White gift pack. Failure to submit any of the requirements above will disqualify your entry.

    *This contest is open to any female reader in the Philippines. If you are not residing in Metro manila, you must be willing to fly over for the makeup workshop. Prize is non-transferrable.

    I’m already excited to announce the winner while typing this. *hee* Good luck to everyone!! Keep on sparkling!!! :)

Forever 21 Mastercard launch ✖ Sparkling White beauty

Last week, Forever 21 & Mastercard held a party at the newly opened Prive club in The Fort to launch their F21 card. I regret not getting one a long time ago because it could have saved me a lot especially during sales. You get special invites to their events, early-entrance during sales plus additional discounts on top of your crazy sale finds!

As usual, Val & I, being the hardcore F21 fangirls that we are, went to support fellow GG Tricia. This is her first public appearance with her new gondo blonde hair. Envy!

Photo with brand ambassadors The Plump Pinay, TG & DG. Thanks Dens!

Bumped into Gretchen Fullido, ABS-CBN news reporter, The Wrap Host, etc. Gretch and I went to the same highschool but we got to know each other because of our love for cute dogs. Hee. I want her perfect hair & skin!! :o

Thanks for this gondo photo, Tricia. Val is my event partner for life!

OOTD: Forever 21 from head to toe!!!!! (except my watch) haha!

FOTD: Since my dress is a bit glittery IRL, I only used light lavender eyeshadows and pink blush & lipstick. I had to rely on my favorite pair of Freshlook contact lenses to make my eyes stand out. 

If you’re wondering what foundation I used, I only applied Etude House BB cream and a little pressed powder on top. The secret to having beautiful skin doesn’t rely on makeup but your daily skin regimen. After all, makeup can’t cover up all your skin problems and sometimes make it worse.

GOLDEN RULE: Always start with a clean face before putting on any makeup & wash up before going to sleep.

I’ve been using Nivea Sparkling White Acne Oil Control cleansing foam for about two weeks already. I always wait for more than a week before I blog about any product just to make sure that they’re really effective. I’ve had several bad experiences with beauty products that make me break out after one use but my face loves this facial foam!

The best thing about this product would probably be its scent. It reminds me of a Japanese facial foam that I used to use before but is too expensive and hard to find. The quality is even comparable because it leaves my skin squeaky clean.

Stay tuned to my blog as I have a lot of surprises for everyone this month since tomorrow is my birthday and my favorite holiday, Halloween is coming up!

Hint: ARE YOU READY FOR A FACE AFFAIR? ;)

Catwalk Cosmetics Makeup Workshop & Halloween Makeup demos

As promised, I’ll be holding one makeup workshop this month with a lower price to give way to those who are saving up for it. It’s also the perfect time for students to join since they will be on sembreak. :D Don’t worry about the age range of students, this workshop is open for all ages! I’ve had enrollees from ages 16 to 55 from my previous batches.

I came up with 2 packages:

PACKAGE A comes with a basic makeup brush set (P3,500) while PACKAGE B comes with a Catwalk Cosmetics wig Gift Certificate worth P1,200 and a makeover! (P3,800). A brush set will be provided for classroom use if you don’t have one. You can choose between having runway makeup or halloween makeup for your makeover (for package B only) so you can learn to apply it on yourself on October 31, which is a week after the workshop! Those who avail of package A can stay and watch too! :D

All makeup & materials will be provided by Etude House & Catwalk Cosmetics so no need to bring anything. ALL students get to take home certificates from Charm Makeup Brushes, Koi Swimwear & Yhansy Manila and a skin care set from Nivea Visage! :)

Venue is at a studio in Pasig; not too far from Tiendesitas. Address will be sent via e-mail after enrollment.

Space is limited so reserve a slot now by texting your full name & e-mail address to 0917-8929289. :)

NIVEA ✘ Mango Glam Express

When two big brands in the beauty and fashion industry join forces, there’s bound to be a lot of fun. So I really prepped myself up for the Nivea & Mango Glam Express event held at Mango, Rockwell last 08.11.11.

Everything was in blue and white; just like Nivea/ Biersdorf’s classic logo. I arrived extra early so I was able to meet the lovely Nivea and Mango team.

What I wore (OOTD)

H&M brown inner dress; Forever 21 Leopard Chiffon top; Nine West shoulder bag; Tonic Leopard Satin Pumps.
*The top is actually from the Plus-size section but I fell in love with the design so I got the smallest one available. Had to pin it on to keep it from falling off my shoulders. 8)

Accessories: My lovely owl connector ring & feather necklace came from Yhansy Manila. It’s a small accessory heaven in Shangri-La mall. I love all of their cute jewelries! <3

Got to bond with fellow beauty bloggers: Atchi (sister in Chinese) Rowena (animetric) & Martha (Beauty Junkee) ~I met her for the first time and I absolutely adore her for her beauty tips and tricks and her knowledge on online shops because I’m currently looking for a new camera that I can take out during events without feeling like an embarassed bunny. *Hint: my Lumix turns 5 this year!

Mango had a styling contest wherein the fastest team to come up with the most similar ensemble as the peg given to us wins. Lucky for me, the ladies picked the one with the Leopard print! Everyone that follows me on Twitter must know that I have a leopard’s eye because I’m obsessed with it! o_o

Our team was so cute because we even huddled prior to scavenging around the shop for the items. Obviously, the leopard dress was assigned to me, Rowy rummaged the accessories bar & Martha, our sexy model, looked for bags & shoes. We came up with *this* (photo above)

After the quick but tiring activity, Nivea showed us a short presentation about Biersdorf’s history, 100th year celebration & their latest product innovation, Nivea Express Hydration.

You can read more about this product here. 

The Yehey team gave us a sneak peek to their latest Facebook Application:The Nivea Glamboard Express. You can make your own “Glam Board” (pegs) so you can mix & match items from Mango and get the chance to win fabulous gifts from Nivea.PH daily.

I was supposed to leave right after trying out the app because I was late for my dinner but they asked me to stay for the closing remarks and awarding for the styling contest. 

The Enciso sisters finished 3rd place with 10 minutes styling time. I hope I get the chance to put makeup on them someday. They’re like real-life angels on earth. :3

The Style Bible team won 2nd place with 9 minutes. Just a 1-minute difference from Vern & Vernice. And guess who won 1st place with just 4 minutes!?!?!

TEAM LEOPARD! RAWR! :)) Everyone was dumbfounded when our time was announced. I couldn’t believe we were THAT fast. The host said that she saw me running in my pumps. *awkward* But hey, all of us got to take home a neat watch from Mango & this^ super heavy basket filled with Nivea goodies. <3<3<3

Thank you Mango & Nivea for this fun event. Looking forward to try the Glamboard Express app this week!

It was such a fun & memorable day for me because I got to end it with an intimate dinner with friends: Marie Digby, Jensterjuice & Val Chua.

Catwalk Cosmetics Makeup Workshop: BATCH 2 Makeovers

2nd Batch of my Maybelline makeup workshop. As usual, my students didn’t have a hard time learning how to put on makeup thanks to the easy-to-use makeup and brushes provided by Maybelline & Suesh. Everyone was impressed by the strong pigments of Catwalk Cosmetics Runway palette and were convinced that bright colors CAN be used at anytime of the day. Normally I would give a short write-up for every student that won a prize, but I kind of forgot because of the amount of work that I’ve been juggling lately. ;__; So I would REALLY appreciate it if you’re a part of this class and leave a comment below if you won an award or prize. :} Thanks to Mylene Chung of The Living Room Studios for the wonderful makeover photos!

Be amazed by their transformation from bare to day to night makeup! :)

Gliezelle

Justine

Kirsten

Cheryl

Cookie

Giezelle

Dyna

Krizelle

Jyle~ I won’t forget her for bagging the best overall photo and makeup! She took home Bizu GCs! :)

For those who weren’t able to join our first 3 batches, here’s a sneak peek to our classroom set-up. Thanks to MAYBELLINE NEW YORK for all the classroom makeup and SUESH for the brushes and mirrors.

Tools I used for demonstration. All the goodies at the back were given away as prizes. Thanks to Garnier, Nivea & Maybelline for being so generous!

Everyone had big smiles when they got their hands on the Catwalk gift bags. Each one of them got to take home Catwalk Cosmetics Runway Eyeshadow & Blush Palette and products/ Gift Certificates from our partners. 

Every student got to take home Macaroon canisters too! Bizu Patisserie has the BEST macaroons in Manila. That’s not an opinion; it’s a fact. My workshop wouldn’t have been complete without these goodies because their macaroons are as colorful as my eyeshadow palettes. Sad that I forgot to take a photo of the yummy Spaghetti Pomodoro they provided that day. It as sooo good, Mylene and I finished it before we even had the chance to take a photo! Fail! :))

After my first 3 sessions, I was supposed to end the series of workshops but I kept getting requests to make more so if you haven’t heard of the good news, Catwalk Cosmetics Makeup Workshop will be sponsored by my favorite Korean brand, ETUDE HOUSE. :D

Basically, everything will be the same except for the giveaways and products used in the classroom. Makeup & skin care education will be provided by Etude House, a brush set will be included in the gift bag OR you can opt to get the Catwalk Cosmetics palette, goodies from other sponsors and a photoshoot by Mylene Chung. 

*********

Since this is a Korean themed workshop, everyone will get the chance to try on The Mane Attraction Wigs during the shoot & the best dressed student with the best photo will win Freshlook contact lenses & the Etude House Princess Award. Whee! :D

For a more detailed info on the CW x EH workshop, check my previous Tumblr entry.

We will have a maximum of 10 students only so reserve a slot now by texting your FULL NAME and E-MAIL address to 0917-8929289.

I hope everyone from Batch 1-3 had fun!! Can’t wait for the Etude House workshop!! Aja Aja!! :D

Forever 21 turns 1 ✖ Nivea turns 100

It’s time to show off your skin and celebrate as Forever 21 Philippines turns 1 and Nivea’s 100 Years Skin Care For Life campaign.

I recently discovered a new lotion that will make me more confident in showing off more skin despite my weight gain. (uh oh, gaining more this week at Hong Kong!) Nivea’s Express Hydration Body Lotion. The lotion is very light; no heavy or sticky feeling while keeping the skin soft and moisturized for over 24 hours!

BUT even with this new discovery, nothing will replace my fondness for the classic Nivea Creme. It’s similar to their Angel Star Soft Body Souffle but fluffier (lol) and more effective. 

My favorite Nivea products are from their Nivea SUN line. That’s how I got my smokin’ hot tan lines. (Photo below) So glad I chose the right tanning oil to take with me to the beach last summer. Been getting tons of compliments at how good it looks. My mom would normally scold me for getting darker. That’s why I haven’t been to the beach for more than 10 years! *o*

The fabulous dress that I’m wearing is from my favorite party dress go-to, Forever 21. I think I’m at the Megamall branch almost once or twice every week. *What. is. shopaholic?* Haha! I avoided the shop for the first 6 months that it opened here but after seeing my friends Tricia and Doms’ outfit posts, I took a peek and BOOM, I treat the shop as if it’s my personal closet. Those who know me well can testify that I’m not a big spender when it comes to clothes because it’s hard to repeat them once we’ve been spotted wearing them especially during press events and launches. Imagine buying a 10k dress and wearing it once only!! *fly, money, fly!!* XD

To my surprise, I have been able to buy really, really great finds. Most dresses that I spot are P1,000 or below only! I think the lace bodycon dress that I’m wearing in this photo is P1,025 only, if I’m not mistaken. (If you’ve read my LOOKBOOK profile, you’ll know I’m a sucker for these type of clothes) I also have a love-hate relationship woth their shoes. Love- yey for new shoes; hate- my shoe closet has extended into my bag closet. My friends are always so envious of what I’m wearing. I think they got infected with my Forever 21 fever too!! :-s


If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll be able to read how often I’m there and how craaazy I go during their sale season! Last Friday, I invited Valerie to shop with me before mall hours. YES you read that right, we were there as early as 9am thanks to the BDO Forever 21 card. Not only do we get rebates when buying stuff from F21, we also get perks like sneak peeks during sales. *evil laugh* :)) So if you’re an F21 shopaholic like me, I recommend you to get one ASAP!!


I’ve been eyeing their cosmetics line for the longest time now but I promised myself that I NEED to abstain from buying makeup for 3 months.  Itching to buy their leopard-print bronzers for a review. Val said that she’s going to send me to the zoo when she catches me buying more leopard merchandise. She doesn’t know that I got the set above. *hee* (Photo taken from F21ph)

I’m really glad I got to shop before going to Hong Kong. I’m sure our stuff here are still cheaper. By the way, I’ll announce all the winners from my Garnier Contest as soon as I get back. Been extremely busy with workshop preparations. Thank you very much for being patient. Keep coming back to The Traveling Heels for announcements. :>

~ Don’t forget to greet Nivea & Forever 21 a happy, happy birthday. Give them a gift by sharing your experiences w/ them below. <3 ~

Catwalk Cosmetics Makeup Workshop: BATCH 1 Makeovers

I’m so proud of my Batch 1 students!! They were very fun and easy to teach and all of them were able to apply the techniques perfectly using makeup from MAYBELLINE. Our photos prove that you don’t need to spend a lot to get good quality makeup because Maybelline can do the job. Everyone was also impressed at how bright the colors from Catwalk Cosmetics are with just one swipe! Thanks to Mylene Chung of The Living Room Studios for the wonderful makeover photos!

Brynn’s Day Makeup won her a gift pack from GARNIER for having the most natural look. Her transformation is AMAZING!

Bea was a very fast learner. She was able to follow all the instructions given to her without any follow-ups!

Pat wasn’t able to have a “before” shoot because she arrived late. Nevertheless, she won a foundation brush and bowl from SUESH COSMETIC TOOLKIT for being the best subject. (perfect photo on the first shot)

Melissa got to take home a gift pack from GARNIER too by giving the perfect answer to one of my makeup and skin care trivias.

I still owe Lei a gift because she researched what “the skin/part behind our palm” is called. I told the group I’d send out anyone that was able to find out because that part is always used but no one knows what it’s called. XD

Joyce bagged BIZU GCs from the “Colorful Macaroons” contest by having the most colorful and best Night look.. Just like their macaroons!

Rachel was shy and quiet but wasn’t afraid to ask questions so she got to address all her concerns and achieved well-blended smokey eyes!

Vanessa was also able to apply makeup naturally. She had a no-makeup day look while her night makeup accentuated her pretty Chinita features.

Lyssandra is the youngest among all my students. She looked like Kim Chiu after getting all dolled up! As you can see, I encouraged everyone to use bright colors for night look instead of the usual and *boring* smokey black colors. That’s why my tag line is “Everyday is a Runway”. ;)

For those who weren’t able to join our first 2 batches, here’s a sneak peek to our classroom set-up. Thanks to MAYBELLINE NEW YORK for all the classroom makeup and SUESH for the brushes and mirrors.

Tools I used for demonstration. All the goodies at the back were given away as prizes. Thanks to Garnier, Nivea & Maybelline for being so generous!

Everyone had big smiles when they got their hands on the Catwalk gift bags. Each one of them got to take home Catwalk Cosmetics Runway Eyeshadow & Blush Palette and products/ Gift Certificates from our partners.

But that’s not all! ..Guess what we had for our snacks?!

I was surprised when I picked up the food from BIZU. I was expecting small finger food or cakes but they sent us beautifully packed Grilled Chicken with Sundried Tomato Pesto Cream in Focaccia with Potato Crisps. Mye and I were so full until dinner time. Haha!

Every student got to take home Macaroon canisters too! Bizu Patisserie has the BEST macaroons in Manila. That’s not an opinion; it’s a fact. My workshop wouldn’t have been complete without these goodies because their macaroons are as colorful as my eyeshadow palettes. 

The makeup classes were supposed to be offered during summer only but due to popular demand from people tweeting and texting me to open another class next month, I’ll be holding one LAST workshop this July 2. Unlike the previous classes, I’ll be accepting 50% deposit (P2,250) to secure a slot instead of full payment and the rest can be paid on the day itself. I want to give way to those who are still studying or saving up for this workshop. 

We will have a maximum of 10 students only so reserve a slot now by texting your FULL NAME and E-MAIL address to 0917-8929289.

I hope everyone from Batch 1 and 2 had fun!! Can’t wait for Batch 3! :)

Nivea Sun Invisible Protection Spray & Deep Tanning Oil ✘ Phuket Thailand

Marriott Mai khao Beach Resort at Phuket, Thailand.

Everyone in our house knows calls me the “toiletries and skin care girl” because I’m so fond of trying out new products all the time. So when we planned a trip to Phuket Resort, they expected me to find the most effective sun protection lotion or spray. I went around the malls to check out different brands and ended up with NIVEA SUN sprays. My family used the Invisible Protection Spray while I used the Deep Tanning oil because I haven’t had a tan in more than 12 years.


Sadly, when we arrived at the resort, the beach was recently ruined by a typhoon so I went pool hopping instead. Marriott resort has 4 different hotels namely: Antara, (Opening soon) Turtle Club, JW Marriot & Marriott Vacation Club. 

My first stop was JW Marriott (above) It was a bit too overcrowded so I only dipped for a few minutes.


Next, Turtle Club. Explains all the stone turtles around the pool. It was a bit too shallow for me so I just went back to our Villa’s pool. 


Luckily, our villa was inside Marriott Vacation Club, which has the widest and cleanest pool around. I stayed under the sun from 11am to 4:30pm. Without any product, I would have come home as dark as coffee but thanks to Nivea Sun Invisible Protection Spray, I didn’t have any sunburn on parts where I applied it.

My shoulders and chest area on the other hand, has a different story. I’ve been so desperate to get tan lines because I don’t get to go under the sun quite often so I sprayed a lot of Nivea Deep tanning Oil on the area. My neck and chest area is also whiter than the rest of my body so I wanted to balance my skin tone. 


Finally, after 5 hours, I achieved a beautiful golden tan! <3 It looks red in the photos because I was fresh out of the shower when I took this photo. My mom says it looks really painful but it didn’t sting at all! 

My back was badly burnt though. *NEVER* forget to put any lotion or sunscreen before applying tanning oil!! I was able to do so on the rest of my body but neglected the back part so I had a hard time sitting and lying down for a day or two. 


After my crazy tanning spree, I applied Nivea Sun Moisturizing after Sun spray to avoid skin dryness and cracking. 

 

I met up with my friend Kay at Mixx club Bangkok that same week and she loves my tan too! I’m so happy I found the perfect sun protection and tanning oil. I hope I can still go to another beach before summer ends. :)

Life’s a Beach ~ So get some sun-protection!

THE TRAVELING HEELS will be at Phuket, Thailand this holy week. I’m so excited to use all the sun protection products that I got last week. It’s been 12 years since I’ve actually stepped on a beach so I haven’t tried any of these products yet!

DAY 1-2: Nivea Sun (L-R) ~ Deep Tanning Oil Spray, SPF 50 Moisturizing Sunblock, Invisible Protection spray w/ SPF 30 & Moisturizing after-sun spray. I’ll need to correct some parts of my body w/ Tanning oil especially the chest area since it’s always hidden from the sun. I’m not going home without any tan lines!!

DAY 3-4: Beach Hut ~ Thank you so much for this cute Sun protection kit + underwater camera & frisbee. Wish I had the time to buy some film for the camera though. (L-R) Hypoallergenic Face Sunblock w/ SPF 65 & their latest MAX Protection SPF 100++. By the way, these came in a cool pizza box-type container. Super cute!

DAY 5-7: ETUDE HOUSE & MAYBELLINE ~ Bangkok tour and shopping. Since I’ll be walking around, I don’t want to use thick sunblock that might become sticky at the end of the day. Instead, I got myself Etude House’s SUN GUARD Aqua Drop sunscreen w/ SPF 33. It has a very light-weight feel since it’s water based so it’s perfect to use on a hot summer day at Bangkok. I also apply it everyday before putting any makeup on. And for my lips, I use Maybelline’s cherry lip gloss w/ SPF 16 to prevent it from chapping and t the same  time, giving it some color.

Will post full reviews of each and every product as soon as I come back home. Enjoy the short vacation! :)